POLS ON THE STREET: G.O.P. Poll Shows Corbett Looms As One-Termer

N.E. PHILA. community leader Joe DeFelice joins angry neighbors and local elected officials at protest of proposed methadone clinic at Frankford Avenue and Decatur Street on Tuesday. DeFelice, president of Mayfair Civic Association, was joined by State Rep. John Taylor, Councilman Bobby Henon and representative Kevin Boyle. A community meeting is planned on Tuesday, Jul. 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Lincoln HS on Ryan Avenue to discuss legal issues, and answer community questions. Photo by Rory McGlasson

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ When a reputable poll conducted by a Republican polling firm says to an incumbent Governor, “You’re in trouble,” the incumbent must listen. Gov. Tom Corbett has to figure out how to go up from Harper Polling’s results this week which found 24% of voters said Corbett deserves reelection, and 56% of voters said it’s time to give someone else a chance.

The poll found a generic Republican candidate would get 40% support.

The results come just a little more than two weeks after Corbett’s budget missed on key agenda items, but did deliver on the promise of no new taxes.

Giving Corbett a second chance to achieve some of his budget goals, the House will return Monday in an effort to pass key parts of the 2013-14 state budget, left undone after a flap with the Senate over payday loans.

The Republican leadership of the 203-member House seeks to enable the State to spend taxpayer money for social services, schools, law enforcement, corrections and every other facet of government covered under the budget.

Since we have not heard much from the talented and articulate Republican candidates – Danny Alvarez for DA and Terry Tracy for Controller – the only election presently in the main arena is titled “Will Gov. Tom Corbett Be A One-Term Governor?”.

Another aspect of the Harper Poll indicated voters understood Corbett’s no-tax-hikes budget was a win for beleaguered taxpayers, who were less concerned about many of the programs left underfunded.

So look for this coming week’s activities in the House to move forward to some degree Corbett’s key legislation.

Locally the Governor announced additional dollars for the Phila. School District and it seems, for now, many of the over 3,800 non-teaching employees who received layoff slips will be returning to work in September. But our local School Reform Commission is awaiting additional action in this coming week’s session before making final determinations as to what gets cut.

However, Corbett campaign gurus missed the mark in winning credit for Corbett with that effort, which the Philly dailies literally ignored. It’s another lost opportunity for the Governor to pick up some votes in the city.

The Republican candidates for the DA and Controller should gamble that appearances now with Corbett could be turned into a positive movement. The Governor’s no-tax budgets will bury much of what has driven his numbers to a record low. Philadelphia taxpayers are looking for tax relief from anywhere. Corbett could put out a couple of carrots in their direction.

The Governor makes a major mistake if he continues to ignore this city’s Democratic voters. They are all smarting over the various tax increases adding to the city’s burden of heavy taxation. Offering to provide additional relief to this city in whatever way possible would get him some of their votes.

SEN. FARNESE CREATES A PROBLEM FOR HIMSELF

We had noted in an earlier report State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-S. Phila.) would be a shoo-in if his intention to run for Lieutenant Governor if no other Philadelphian sought nomination to the same seat. Party Chairman and Congressman Bob Brady has made it obvious the City’s Democratic Party would endorse that individual.

But Farnese rolled the dice in the Controller’s election, contributing $23,000 total in two contributions to the campaign of Brett Mandel. That is a move one would not make when seeking the DCC endorsement.

Controller Alan Butkovitz, newly renominated by a big margin, and a ward leader to boot, will be among the first to throw a “black ball” against a Farnese endorsement. That could well change the Senator’s plan to seek the seat.

COMMISSIONER SINGER CAUGHT WITYH SOME DIRTY LAUNDRY

Commissioner Stephanie Singer tried to fly under the radar with a $49 contribution to the campaign of Brett Mandel. Only contributions over $50 need to be reported. But her contribution, against an endorsed candidate, surfaced anyway.

Challenger Mandel’s finance reports showed her contribution. Small as it was, her contribution may come back to haunt her when she seeks DCC’s endorsement in her next go-around for City Commissioner. Unlike her first campaign, some of her key anti-Commission Chair Margaret Tartaglione’s foes won’t be there to help her. She has served their purpose.

WHO’S YOUR CHOICE FOR NEXT MAYOR?

The Philadelphia Public Record and South Philadelphia Public Record newspapers are conducting an online poll to determine the public’s preference for the next Mayor of Philadelphia.  By law, incumbent Michael Nutter is limited to two terms and cannot run again in 2015.

The Public Record poll offers an array of 12 well-known civic leaders for you to choose from in a potential Democratic primary election.

Already 190 votes have been cast in this poll. It will remain open on our webpage until after Labor Day. To cast your vote, visit www.phillyrecord.com. The poll is on the left-hand side of the page.

GALLOWAY TO SEEK  LT. GUV POST

State Rep. John Galloway (D-Bucks) is reported seeking a run for Lieutenant Governor. Galloway has represented Levittown and other parts of Lower Bucks since 2006.

Galloway framed his potential bid as a response to being recruited by higher-ups. Why? Because the “Nancy Pelosi wing” of the Democratic Party is overrepresented, as his supporters put it, and Galloway casts himself as a moderate.

Announced gubernatorial candidates represent the more-liberal southeast Democratic base which Galloway shares. None of the declared or likely candidates lives west of the Susquehanna River valley or north of the Lehigh Valley. The opposite is true on the second line of the ballot: Most of the candidates for Lieutenant Governor are from midstate. These include Harrisburg city official Brenda Alton, Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski and Bradford Co. Commissioner Mark Smith.

Also dipping their toes in the lieutenant-guv race are former Congressman Mark Critz (D-Cambria), Pennsylvania State Education Association President Mike Crossley of Pittsburgh, Northampton Co. DA John Morganelli, State Rep. Brandon Neuman (D-Washington) and State Sen. John Wozniak (D-Cambria).

The current Lieutenant Governor, Jim Cawley, is also a Bucks native and former county commissioner, which reinforces the southeastern county’s role as a major battleground in 2014.

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